The Language of Imports: How Technology Rewrote the Script

Can you imagine mailing a letter to a friend or business associate…

And the cost of the stamp for the envelope was based on the number of letters you used in your note?

Technology has transformed my import business in ways I could never have imagined. Back in the day, communicating with factories in China, Korea, and elsewhere involved a clunky telex machine. This machine was our lifeline for ordering baseball caps, coffee mugs, gift packaging, and candleholders, but it came with its own set of challenges.

Picture this: sending and receiving messages over regular phone lines, but the catch was that we were charged by the letter. Yes, you heard me right, by the letter! So, every character, every word, every detail, counted. It forced us to become masters of abbreviation, squeezing as much information as possible into each costly message. It was like learning a whole new language, a shorthand that only those in the import business could understand.

Fast forward to today, and the difference is astounding. We now have an array of tools at our disposal, making communication with our manufacturing partners a breeze. Faxes, WhatsApp, and email help us send messages, drawings, pictures, and product specifications instantly. No more agonizing over how to fit a request for color options or design changes into a tight budget of letters.

Modern communication methods have made our work more efficient and improved collaboration with suppliers. We can now share visuals, discuss changes, and address issues with a level of detail and speed that was once unimaginable. It's not just about convenience; it's about the way we've elevated the quality of our products and the smoothness of our operations.

Technology has transformed my import business and made it easier to work with our global manufacturing network. So, if you ask me, I welcome the future with open arms, thankful for the convenience and clarity it brings to my import business. It cut our lead-times in half.

David Quincey is the President of QualServ Imports, Inc., in Denville, NJ. He has been at QualServ for over 35 years. During that time, he has been importing candle vessels and lids, paper gift bags and boxes and other promotional items from around the world. With offices in the United States, Canada, Taiwan, Hong Kong and China, QualServ can help clients get quality promotional items directly from the factory where they were made; no middlemen are involved.

QualServ has an extensive online catalog for clients to review. If a client wants a custom-made item, QualServ can help design it or send the client’s design to a factory that can produce it. Samples/prototypes will be made available. And all final shipments are inspected prior to shipment to the client.

Moreover, QualServ guarantees all products!

If your company is looking for quality promotional items at low prices, give David a call at 917-992 -1727 or email him at [email protected].